Association Among Periodontitis and the Use of Crack Cocaine and Other Illicit Drugs

Abstract

Background: Crack cocaine can alters functions related to the immune system and exert a negative influence of the progression and severity of periodontitis. The aim of this study was to compare periodontal status between crack cocaine users and crack nonusers and to investigate the association between crack cocaine and periodontitis after adjustments for confounding variables.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 106 individuals exposed to crack and 106 never exposed matched for age, sex and tobacco. An examiner determined the visible plaque index (VPI), marginal bleeding index (MBI), dental calculus, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Logistic regression was used to model the association between crack cocaine and periodontitis (least 3 sites with CAL > 4 mm and at least 2 sites with PD > 3 mm, not have to be in the same site or tooth).Results: The prevalence of periodontitis among the crack nonusers and crack users was 20.8% and 43.4%,...